Un fin

His politeness only sharpened your frustration. “Someone cut the brake lines on my car last week. And someone broke into my office. Classified files went missing. Security footage glitched for exactly seven minutes. You’re the only person who could have bypassed our systems that cleanly.”

Hannibal’s expression didn’t shift, not even a flicker. “You always gave me too much credit.”

“And you always pretend innocence,” you replied. “But I know your patterns. I know when you’re trying to scare me. I know when you’re trying to send a message.”

Hannibal stepped closer, slow and deliberate, hands folded behind his back. “What message do you believe I would send?”

“That you want me back,” you said. “Or at least close enough for you to control.”

He tilted his head slightly, a gesture that had once been endearing, back when you didn’t know what it meant. Now it makes your pulse tighten.

“You left abruptly,” he said. “Without discussion. Without closure. You didn’t even allow me the courtesy of disagreement.”

“That’s because breakups aren’t mutual agreements,” you said. “You don’t get to co-sign them. You just… accept them.”

“Acceptance,” Hannibal echoed softly. “A curious expectation for a man like me.”

You drew a steady breath. “Hannibal. Whatever this is… Breaking into my office, sabotaging the car, it ends now.”

He considered you for a moment, then walked past you toward the console table near the door. His fingers brushed lightly across a water glass resting there before he turned back.

“You say you know me,” he said, “yet you overlook the simplest patterns.”

You narrowed your eyes. “What does that mean?”

“It means,” he replied, “that you always look at the obvious threats and ignore the subtler ones.”

You opened your mouth to speak, but he continued, as if reciting something matter-of-fact:

“The water bottle in your car is drugged.”

You felt your stomach pull tight. “What?”

He gave a slight, almost gentle nod. “You carry it everywhere. You leave it in the cup holder when you’re in the field. You drink from it without thinking.” A faint smile touched his lips. “It made more sense than waiting for you to drink from a glass here again.”

A cold tremor ran up your spine. “What did you put in it?”

“Nothing lethal,” Hannibal assured, stepping closer. “Just something to soften you. Something to make sure you didn’t feel the need to run quite so quickly again.”

Your pulse hammered. “I didn’t drink any of it.”

“Didn’t you?” he asked, voice low, intimate. “You take sips without noticing. Especially when you’re distracted. Especially when you’re driving home late.”

Your throat tightened. You remembered the bottle. You remembered grabbing it on instinct. You remembered taking two quick swallows earlier in the car because your mouth was dry.

Your fingers curled at your sides. “You drugged me.”

“I prepared for the possibility,” Hannibal said calmly. “I did not force you to drink. I merely… anticipated your habits. And you confirmed them.”

Your breath came unevenly now, though you tried to mask it. A creeping warmth had begun to spread through your limbs —subtle at first, then heavier, like thick velvet pressing down from the inside. Your balance faltered for half a second.

Hannibal noticed instantly.

“Sit,” he said, voice gentle but firm. “It will be easier that way.”

You shook your head. “No. I’m not here to…”

The room tilted, just slightly. Enough to make your vision blur at the edges. Your heartbeat felt muffled, cushioned by a haze that grew stronger with each uneven inhale.

“Hannibal,” you whispered, gripping the back of a chair for support. “You can’t…”

“I can,” he replied softly, “and I already have.”

You blinked hard, trying to stay present, trying not to sway. The warmth in your limbs deepened into something heavy and slow, as if your body were beginning to dream while still awake.

Hannibal stepped forward and caught your arm before you could stumble.

“There,” he murmured. “Let me.”

You tried to pull away, but your strength faltered. His grip steadied you effortlessly, guiding you down onto the nearest seat.

“This isn’t love,” you whispered, words thick on your tongue.

“No,” Hannibal agreed, kneeling in front of you as if tending to something fragile. “It is devotion. It is inevitability. It is what you and I always return to, no matter how far you try to run.”

Your vision blurred further, his face softening at the edges.

“Hannibal… I didn’t come back to you.”

“You did,” he said quietly. “Your body knew it long before your mind admitted it. That is why you are here. Why you always end up here.”

A wave of exhaustion pulled at you, dragging your limbs toward stillness.

“You don’t get to decide this,” you whispered, though each word fought to escape.

“I’m not deciding,” he murmured. “I’m reminding.”

He brushed a hand over your cheek —gentle, familiar, unbearably possessive.

“You left me once,” he said softly. “But you won’t leave again.”

You tried to respond, but the drug was already tightening its hold, drawing you deeper, tuning the world into something warm and distant.

Hannibal watched your eyelids flutter, his expression calm and satisfied.

“Rest,” he whispered, guiding your head forward until your forehead nearly touched his. “Everything else can wait.”

And as consciousness slipped from your grasp, the last thing you felt was the steady weight of his hand —and the terrifying certainty that he had planned this all along.

The lights in the apartment were low, casting a soft amber glow over the furniture. The distant murmur of the city filtered through the spacious windows. Forgotten, uncared for.

You were curled on the couch, blankets wrapped tightly around your body and an ice pack rested against your forehead. Despite having told the boys numerous times on the way home that you were fine; they deeply disagreed with you.

Across from you, Miran paced like a caged animal, jaw clenched so tightly that it ticked. His eyes were darker than usual, and every so often, they flicked towards the door like he was debating walking back out and hunting someone down.

Zio leaned against the wall, arms crossed. He hadn’t spoken in ten minutes— rare for him— and his silence was thick with tension. Plus, his eyes never left you; he tracked every blink, and deep breath with a knowing watch.

Making sure you wouldn’t do whatever you did earlier during the street performance.

Ruen sat on the coffee table in front of you, elbows on his knees, fingers steepled like he was praying— or plotting.

“I’m fine,” you told them for the third time since you’ve been home. Your voice was soft, lying to even yourself. “It was just… a headache. Probably stress— or, maybe the sun—“

“Don’t lie to us.” Ruen’s voice was low, rough edged with something feral.

You adverted his gaze. “I’m not…”

“You nearly collapsed,” Miran cut in, quiet but colder than usual. “You were burning up. Could barely stand.”

“And you were holding your head like something was stabbing you in the skull.” Zio added. “Don’t tell us that was just stress.”

You looked between them. Their faces were tight, unrelenting. Protective, yes— but something else simmered underneath. Something you’ve yet to see with your own eyes when it came to your boys.

You swallowed, chin resting on your knees. “It didn’t feel like… them. The Saja boys, I mean.”

Even though you were lying to their faces about feeling fine, you were speaking the truth about the Saja boys. I didn’t feel like them; it felt stronger, more powerful than any simple demon you’ve encountered.

Miran scoffed, almost laughing. “Of course it was them. Who else would mess with your head and then have the balls to perform like nothing happened?”

“They’re toying with you,” Ruen said, leaning forward as he took your head in his hands. “With us. And now, they know what you look like, what you are.”

You looked down at your hands. Ignoring how Ruen gripped your face a smudge tighter. Your fingers curled instinctively into your palm. They were right. Deep down you knew that the Saja boys knew what you were, and even deeper down, you knew that they would come for you at some point or another.

And something told you that you needed to tell your boys about the voice from earlier. But they wouldn’t understand— not yet.

How could you explain that you’d heard a voice— not quite human— whispering her name through the music? A voice that sounded like it came from deep inside your skull, too faint to truly understand, but sharp enough to make you hurt.

But you didn’t want to tell them, because once you did, it would become real.

The voices. The pain. The feeling of something awakening deep inside your body.

So, you said nothing.

And the boys, watching you with darkened eyes and clenched jaws, interrupted your silence in a different way.

“They’ll regret having met you.” Ruen whispered to you, rubbing his thumb against your cheek.

“We should’ve stopped them,” Miran stopped his pacing, eyeing you with a look of solicitude. “We should have broken something.”

“Yeah, like their stupid— perfect— faces.” Zio muttered, the others choosing to ignore him.

They then began to talk over one another, muttering threats or actions that they should have done instead of standing around and watching as you were mind-tortured by the Saja boys.

You knew you couldn’t say anything to change their mind. They were blaming the Saja boys. And if you hadn’t heard the voice, you would have blamed them too. But even though you deemed them semi-innocent, you knew your boys weren’t as forgiving.

“If you don’t believe me,” you began, the room immediately quieting down as they listen to your soft voice. “Then what do we plan on doing to stop them?”

Despite your gut telling you no, you felt the urge to know what they planned on doing. If they were to torture them or give them a quick and easy death. But even deep down, you felt as if both of those choices were wrong. You felt as if, maybe, you had a chance at talking to them. Get to know their motives before they acted.

It was silent. Each boy being deep inside their mind as they thought over the same thought.

“Do we know where they are now?” Ruen asked, suddenly standing up and reluctantly dropping his hands from your face.

Miran nodded his head, pulling his phone from his back pocket. “They said something about a talk show, after their performance.” He told the room, pulling up his socials on the Saja boys.

“Play games with us,” Zio chimed, showing his own phone where the game show had made a post for tonight featuring the Saja boys. “It starts in an hour.”

“Then we’ll be there.” Ruen finished, gesturing to the boys as they each began to make their way out of the living room.

You perked at this, not thinking that they would have acted this fast to ‘dealing’ with the Saja boys. You quickly unraveled yourself from the thick blankets and tossing the freezing ice pack onto the coffee table. “Wait—“ You stumbled from the heavy blankets. “Wait, I’m coming.”

They turned around, each with a stern look on their face. “No. You’re staying here, we don’t know what else they might do to you if you come with us.”

You fought the urge to roll your eyes at them— to even scream at them. “I already told you guys, whatever happened to me earlier; Was. Not. Them. And it was barely even anything, I was being over dramatic. So let me come.”

“No.”

“Ruen, I love you. But you’re being an ass.” You told him, facing the other two boys. “Miran?”

He hummed with a shake of his head.

“Zio?”

“Nope.”

You eyed them. They eyed you. It felt like an old western movie— a stand off. If you squinted hard enough, you could make out a tumbleweed blowing in the background. “I’m still coming.” You told them, not wanting to hear their if’s or but’s as you quickly made your way towards your bedroom.

“No—“ A hand grabbed at your wrist, stopping you from going any further. “No. Just stay here. In the blankets. Where it’s safe.”

“The blanket is not safe, I was getting claustrophobic in there.” You told Zio, yanking your arm from his grasp. “I am coming with you. That’s final. Because I am a hunter. I am your friend. I want to help you, not sit around in a fort of blankets, while you guys are off risking your lives.”

The apartment rang quiet as the boys listened to you. Different swell of emotions forming in the pits of their stomachs.

Did they want you to come with them? No. Were they scared that these Saja boys would play with your mind like they did earlier today? Yes. Did they want to wrap you in layers of bubble wrap and keep you locked in padded room so no one could ever hurt you? Absolutely.

But did they have the right to ignore your wishes and keep you hidden in the apartment? They liked to think so, but only when it affects your safety.

Ruen glanced down at his watch, the hands dancing in slow circles as time continued. He let out a deep groan before pinching the bridge of his nose. “Fine. Fine! You can come, but you stay with one of us at all times, okay? No wandering off, no talking to someone that we haven’t met or seen before. Nothing.”

You furrowed your brows, crossing your arms as you eyed the purple haired man. “We are too old to have a buddy system.”

“You can hold my hand if you’d want.” Zio offered, wiggling his fingers at you with a small smile. Trying to ease the slight tension in the room.

“I’m not a child.”

“No, you’re not.” Miran agreed, coming forward to smooth your hair. Letting his hands linger for just a moment. “But you are important to us, and we are not going to let any bad happen to you from here on out.”

You knew they wouldn’t say it aloud, but you saw it in their eyes.

The Saja boys had just made the first move.

And the Huntrix would make sure that it was their last.

Bright lights. Garish hosts. The live studio audience cheered. Laughter and excitement coming from the crowd as they watched the Saja boys chug hot sauce from a baby bottle.

“What the hell am I watching?” You muttered to yourself, watching as they struggled to down the fiery liquid.

Each boy sat in high chairs with bib’s around their necks, their names written on the children’s fabric. Expressions caught in exaggerated pain the longer they drank. Well, all except for the maknae of the group, he was happily drinking away.

You stood offstage in the wings, waiting for your cue from your boys to attack.

Alone.

“Stay here,” Ruen had ordered, jaw clenched as he was already making his way into position.

“Don’t engage.” Zio echoed, trailing after the purple haired man. “If they spot you, we loose the upper hand.”

Mira passed by, giving your shoulders a reassuring squeeze. “We’ll handle this, just be our eyes.”

Then they were gone— slipping into the shadows, their weapons glowing across their faces as they set up the sneak attack.

Leaving you, quite literally, in the dark.

It was times like these where you didn’t understand the boys. They were so earnest to have you by one of their sides at all times, and yet the moment the Saja boys guard is let down they leave you to attack them. You couldn’t tell if they were just eager to get rid of them to protect you or if their minds were too fogged with Celine’s orders to kill all demons.

The sound of static filled the air, your name shortly following. You grabbed your walkie-talkie from your back pocket, bringing the communicator to your lips before pressing the button on the side. “

“When we give you the signal, cut off all the lights” Ruen’s voice cut through the static. “We’ll drop down and rid the world of their stupid faces, and their stupid music.”

You winced a little. You definitely wouldn’t call their music stupid, it was catchy, had good rhythm, and you’ve caught yourself humming the song when you were all alone. And you especially wouldn’t call their faces stupid…

But you definitely couldn’t tell the boys that.

“And what should I do?” You asked, hand going to hover over your own weapon. The Sai was tucked in its sheath around your hip, the three pointed ends sharp and poised, ready for action.

Since you weren’t destined to be a true hunter, your weapon didn’t glow, it didn’t appear out of thin air like the boys. You just had to carry it around where ever you went, hidden beneath stealth clothes and layers of wrap until you needed it.

But since you weren’t an actual hunter that also meant that the most your weapon could do to a demon was cut them. Make them bleed inhuman blood. Not send them back to the pits of hell.

Static rang once more, “Nothing. Do not engage with these demons, leave them to us.”

You turned your back to the stage momentarily, “What- no. I did not come all this was to be your guys light switch.”

“We don’t have time for this,” Miran’s voice cut in, sharp and final. “On our signal, cut of the lights and get somewhere safe.”

“Miran, I can do more than that, just let me show you guys what I can do.” You waited for a response, for them to just tell you no again and for you to hide so that no one would be able to harm you. But you were met with silence.

“Miran? Zio?” Static then came from your commute, but no one said anything back. “Guys?”

You glanced down at the object, seeing the light on the top switch to orange. That could only mean one thing: Those assholes shut off their talkies.

A groan escaped your lips, forehead hitting the back prop with defeat. You didn’t tag along to be useless. You tagged along to help take down the demon boyband. You wanted to prove to yourself and to the boys that you were a true hunter.

Even though you train alongside your boys for the past fifteen years, you weren’t a true hunter. At least according to Celine. To her, you are what you’ve always been destined to be: the key. And you knew deep down that the boys thought the same way.

And, maybe, that’s why they were so protective of you when it came to hunts. Why one of them was always by your side, even when you could handle yourself just fine. Or even why they surrounded you at home, too.

Because they knew that you couldn’t do your job as a ‘hunter’. Because they knew you were never supposed to be one in the first place.

“Give it up for the Saja boys!”

With your head still leaned against the back prop, you turned to see the Saja boys all standing in a line. Bibs discarded and high chairs rolled away, they stood before the game show hosts, nodding patiently as the two men began to wrap up tonight’s show.

“It is always so hard to say goodbye,” the main host said to the audience, his co-host repeating his words as he wiped ‘tears’ from his eyes.

Jinu, as you’ve come to learn, took the mic from the host, taking the center stage as he began to speak. “Then why say goodbye when we have a special guest coming up?”

The audience cheered on, eager to find out who the ‘special’ guests happened to be. You glanced around backstage, curious to see if anyone happened to be waiting in the wings for their cue to go on stage, but no one was around besides crew help. From where you stood, you could tell your boys were just as confused and curious as you.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the stage, Huntrix!” Jinu stepped back, gesturing to the top of the back drop where Ruen, Miran’s and Zio stood. As the spot light shifted over to them, they got rid of their weapons, smiles forced for the audience as they awkwardly waved.

“Oh my god,” you muttered, head falling into your hands. They were so worried about you getting caught, that they ended up being the ones that got caught and blew their own cover. It was ironic, and something you would have laughed at if the enemy wasn’t a group of unpredictable demons such as these.

Ruen quickly came up with an excuse, slowly shifting himself down the back drop to try and get away. “We just wanted to congratulate and show support to our hoobaes.” He lied, eyes momentarily drifting to where you stood in the wings before drifting back.

“And of course…” Jinu stepped drawled, mischief dancing in his eyes. “Play Games With Us! Get the slide.”

You quickly dove behind the back drop right as the rest of the Saja boys ran over, ungracefully hitting the ground while they ran right past you. They grabbed a slide that you hadn’t noticed earlier and wheeled it in on stage, a sign that read ‘welcome Huntrix’ pasted on the front.

Huntix glanced down at the slide, each of them shaking their heads even as the crowd began to chant. “No— we shouldn’t.” Miran refused, the other boys giving their own refusals before ultimately giving in to the crowds wishes.

They slowly crawled over the back drop, each sitting on their own slide before pushing off. But instead of smoothly falling into the ball pit below, their leathered hunter outfits stopping them with an annoying screech. Causing you, the Saja boys and the audience to cringe at the noise and the second hand embarrassment that ebbed from the boys.

“Oh. My. God.” You muttered again, slowly standing up form the ground right at Huntix fell into the ball pit. Everyone cheering as the the Saja boys having haunting smirks on their faces.

Huntrix quickly stood up, cheeks slightly a-flamed from embarrassment. “Well, this has been fun…” Ruen muttered, a fake smile plastered on his face for the cameras.

Jinu nodded, mic still in hand as he spoke to the boys. “Seonbae, it has been an honor to share the stage with you.” Then, as one, the Saja boys took a bow. The audience cheering for how respectful they were for the other boy group.

Gritting their teeth, your boys bowed lower. Claiming that it was their honor before they then started a bow war, both groups getting lower towards the ground to try and beat the other.

Huntrix groaned in pain as they had strained their backs, one of them popping from the action. Whereas the Saja boys were folded in half, heads nearly touching the floor as they basked in winning the bow off.

You stood from behind the Saja boys—admiring your short live view before they straightened back up.

Then the lights dropped. The hosts voice echoed through the auditorium, laughter and applause rising from the crowd like a wave as the curtain closed for the night.

The show was over.

You exhaled, shoulders pulled tight as you waited for the next move. Huntrix, still in a bowed position, glanced past the Saja boys and towards you. Their hands itching to summon their weapons and deal with the demons before them no matter who was around.

Zio reached for his walkie around his waist, no doubt about to give you some order to hide in the janitors closet for your own safety. Miran glared deviously at the boys, the feel of his weapon dancing on his fingers. Ruen never took his eyes off of you, a part of him worried that once he did you’d disappear from sight.

Where as the Saja boys… they were already moving.

But they weren’t rushing towards the crowd or the exit. Instead they were running straight in your direction.

You immediately reach for your Sai, the blade unsheathed and ready for action. Though before you could attack or get the upper hand on these demons, they were already on you.

Abby wrapped a hand around your waist, lifting you off the ground. You kicked your legs, trying to use your momentum and weight to pull him down like you’ve done with many demons in the past. But a pair of arms grabbed them, holding them tight to keep you from kicking and flailing around. Mystery stared back at you behind his long bangs, refusing to release your legs despite your struggles.

With your weapon still in hand, you twisted the Sai until the sharp blades were pressed against your forearm. Quickly, and quite swiftly, you attacked both men. Having a better angle, you went for Mystery first— but he moved like smoke. Smooth and effortless. Your blade cutting nothing but air.

Something wet touched your ear. Something wet and warm that was soon followed by a pair of lips. “Careful with that thing,” Abby told you, your body now pressed tightly against his chest. You’d jerked your head away, trying to twist your body around in his hold as your weapon came for him next— Sai aimed for his jaw.

The blade came dangerously close. Abby faltered, not in fear, but in awe. With the feeling of your body held against his own, the heat of your skin seeping onto him through his tight floral shirt.

His mouth parted slightly. Distracted.

“Awww…” a voice cooed from beside you, snatching your Sai’s right before you could cut Abby’s face. Romance twirled it around in his hands, “Look at you playing with your toys.”

Feeling a weight shift around your waist, you turned to see Baby taking your other Sai. “And look at that, she’s got two.” He gave you a wicked grin. “How cute is that?” He mocked, turning away and leaving you defenseless against these demons.

You continued to thrash, even as they began to move you towards the exit. One of Abby’s hands slid from your torso to clamp over your mouth when you started to yell, drawing unwanted attention from stage crew. “We need to hurry up and get her out of here.” Mystery commented, holding your legs gently, yet firmly. “Now.”

Abby nodded, shifting you in his hold as the three of you went through the exit doors. “Yeah, wouldn’t want your boyfriends to show up, do we?”

A few giggles erupted from the boy band, specifically Baby as he used your precious Sai to slide it through the exits handles. Keeping everyone locked in from the outside.

“We’ve been dying to properly meet you.” One of them— you didn’t know who since they seemed to be all around you— had said, tugging playfully at your hair.

Seoul’s warm air hit your skin as both Abby and Mystery somehow ran with you in their arms. The latter giving you a small smile every time your eyes met his hidden ones. You could hear the distance shouting coming from inside the studio, no doubt it was your boys trying to find where you’ve gone. The exit door shaking as someone began to run into it repeatedly— your Sai rattling against the handles as more bodies were thrown against the door.

And then you were gone.

Running from the small alleyway that connected to the studio and merging with the crowd. Ignoring the weird looks that people would throw their way, wondering why five grown men were running off with a person in their arms. Each with a giddy smile and mischievous glints in their eyes.

And you, stolen away by five demons, weapons stripped from your hands— had a strange, creeping feeling in your chest.

Not just fear.

Something worse.

Something you’ve yet to experience before.

You sat with your back against the tiled wall, arms crossed tightly. Your clothes were slightly damp from the steam in the air, clinging to her body like a second skin. Sai long gone— Baby having taken them gleefully— and the five demons lounged near you like panthers in a den.

No chains. No restraints.

Just you and the dangerous realization that they didn’t need chains.

“Stop touching me.”

Romance chuckled, taking his arm from where it rested across your shoulders. “Relax. You’re not our prisoner… yet.”

“Then let me go.” You snapped, shuffling away from the demon beside you.

He laughed— not mocking. But fondly.

“We would. We really would. But, you’re too interesting.”

Abby, leaning against the wall on your left, spoke up. “Yeah, you and your three boyfriends have really peeked our interest.”

“They are not my—“

“Do you ever get strange headaches?” Jinu interrupted, he sat on the rim of a drained tub, hand folded on his lap.

You turned in his direction, his casual question not meeting the same vibe of the kidnapping that had happened earlier. “Yes? Everyone gets headaches, I don’t see why that would concern you?” Your small ‘outburst’ making the demon quirk his eyebrow at you.

Mystery sat crossed legged infront of you, his knees barely touching your own. “Or what about a voice in your head?” He added voice low. “Thoughts that aren’t yours?”

You stiffened at that, but said nothing. Your a hands picking at your nails the longer he stared at you.

“Or dreams?” Abby asked, not so subtly flexing his arm in the steam. “Ever see someone walking around, looking… sketchy?”

You gently shook your head. Although Mystery had kinda hit home with the whole voice in your head thing, you were curious if Abby’s dream would come true in the future. Or hopefully they were just crazy.

Baby, who stood the furthest away from you, grinned. “Bet she’ll dream of us now.”

They all chuckled.

But none of them laughed with their eyes.

Jinu watched you carefully.

There was something deliberate about the way you held your silence. He admired that restraint— your unwillingness to give them anything. Most people would crack under curiosity or fear.

You didn’t.

Not yet.

And when you were grabbed earlier, you hadn’t screamed. You fought. A little clumsy, but you still tried to hold your own even while suspended in air. You had fought furiously.

It fascinated him. You were human, fragile and sensitive to feelings— but somewhere in her, something refused to break.

He wondered what that thing was.

He wondered what would happen when it finally did.

Romance found her silence charming— but it was her resistance that lingered.

You weren’t dumb. You weren’t naive. You knew exactly what they were, and still your eyes never left the exits.

It wasn’t in fear. It was planning

And he loved that.

There was a sharpness in you, some kind of fire hiding just beneath the surface. The kind of burn that made people dangerous in the right moment.

He kept thinking about the way you moved during the scuffle. The way you held your Sai like you’d use them. Like you were born to kill them with your useless weapon.

Romance wasn’t sure if he wanted to tease the fire out or keep it all to himself.

Mystery like to watch you think.

It was the little things— how your eyes shifted between their faces, how your breathing would slowed when you’d get cornered with questions.

He would watch as you’d analyze everything. Watch as you’d look them in the eye, but were always thought over what you said before saying it.

That kind of awareness, in humans, was rare.

He could tell you were used to the noise. Used to the chaos.

But you moved like someone used to surviving it.

And he respected that.

Maybe even… related to it.

Abby was drawn to your stubbornness.

Not in the way he usually finds amusing— this wasn’t someone just trying to prove themselves.

This was someone who already been through something.

He didn’t know what it was, but he recognized the heaviness. And how you carried it without bitterness. Most people would fold when life pressed too hard. But you’ve come out of whatever it was standing straighter, sharper.

He admired that kind of strength.

Envied it even.

Baby like how complicated you were.

You weren’t predictable. They knew that you’ve trained with the Huntix for years, but they hadn’t expected you to try and kill them on the spot earlier. One second you were fighting them, the next you were silent— calculating.

And he could tell you were exhausted. Trying to beat five demons with no weapons and no where to truly run is physically exhausting for the human body. But deep down, he could tell that you were tired mentally, too. Like your thoughts never stopped moving.

He liked that. He liked people that were messy on the inside.

It made them real.

And something about that made him want to protect that mess, even if it meant making it worse.

Their questions and teasing had slowed, leaving them to just watch you as you sat awkwardly on the bathroom floor before them. The steam hissed softly. You shifted, uncomfortable under their attention— but not scared.

Not anymore.

“What do you want from me?” You asked finally.

Jinu gave the faintest smile.

“To know you.”

“To understand you.” Said Mystery, leaning forward so that his knees truly touched your own.

“To keep you safe,” Abby added.

“To keep you,” Romance whispered in you ear.

Baby twirled your Sai between his fingers, then handed it back to you handle-first.

“To see what you do when no one else is watching.”

A/a/n: just ignore how rushed the ending is, I wanted to show the Saja boys slowly becoming Yandere while also trying not to go scene for scene of the movie. And just ignore how fast paced this may be. I also don’t like how short this is but y’know what I am just happy I’m done. :) And yall I promise I’m adding everyone to the tag list, just some of yall ain’t coming through for some reason. It was like six of yall that won’t let me tag you guys and I’m so sorry I’m trying 😭

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